drugs drugs drugs (depression, doctor, insurance, expensive)

[Good4Nothin]

I was just thinking about all the drugs that are so popular, even if they have little or no proven benefit. I wondered why the insurance companies are so happy to pay for them. They won't pay for natural supplements -- but drugs, however expensive, are just fine.

So I thought maybe the drug companies pay the insurance companies to cover the drugs. And I looked it up in Google and what do you know -- drugs companies give big rebates to the insurance companies for covering their drugs.

[jaminhealth]

Originally Posted by Good4Nothin

I was just thinking about all the drugs that are so popular, even if they have little or no proven benefit. I wondered why the insurance companies are so happy to pay for them. They won't pay for natural supplements -- but drugs, however expensive, are just fine.

So I thought maybe the drug companies pay the insurance companies to cover the drugs. And I looked it up in Google and what do you know -- drugs companies give big rebates to the insurance companies for covering their drugs.

Boy that doesn't surprise me. Post the link.

I heard years ago pharma grants funds to medical schools.

Medical Schools and Drug Firm Dollars : NPR

There are other sites as well.

[old fed]

Originally Posted by Good4Nothin

I was just thinking about all the drugs that are so popular, even if they have little or no proven benefit. I wondered why the insurance companies are so happy to pay for them. They won't pay for natural supplements -- but drugs, however expensive, are just fine.

So I thought maybe the drug companies pay the insurance companies to cover the drugs. And I looked it up in Google and what do you know -- drugs companies give big rebates to the insurance companies for covering their drugs.

which drugs are those?

[Good4Nothin]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...merry-go-round

[Good4Nothin]

So this means insurance companies are NOT basing their decisions on what is safe and works best. They are basing their decisions, largely, on the rebates.

[jaminhealth]

Originally Posted by Good4Nothin

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...merry-go-round

How gross, we don't know how gross until we read it in print.

[Mikala43]

“We regret that our programs did not keep pace with the evolving health-care system, and, as a result, some patients are facing out-of-pocket costs that were never intended, potentially leading to stress upon them and their families,” Mylan said in a letter last month to Congress, which objected to the $600 price for two EpiPens.


My DOCTOR prescribes medicine and my insurance covers it - none of the rebates influence what my doctor chooses (he would probably have no knowledge of the rebates as it is given to the insurance company). I don't think I have EVER had insurance NOT approve the doctor's recommendation.

Also, please note, a lot of the rebate amounts ARE going back to the patients, just not in some situations which makes a greater hardship on some families.

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by Good4Nothin

So this means insurance companies are NOT basing their decisions on what is safe and works best. They are basing their decisions, largely, on the rebates.

Insurance companies do not decide what medicine is prescribed, doctors do.

The problems is that insurance normally pays for meds, so they would get the rebate. The problem is when patients have a high deductible, they should get the rebate, but the insurance company is still getting it.

But again..... doctors issue the Rx.


It's in the article.

[NVplumber]

I fired a primary care doctor because he and his PA both kept trying to peddle new medications at me that had just come out, for my BP. They also tried to push a brand new antidepressant and I don't have a problem with depression. The meds for my BP work just fine and have been for a while. Yet they pushed these new ones like used car sales reps.

[jaminhealth]

As I understood the OP's reasoning for the post is that so much money influence is paid to medical schools and doctors by pharma world overall. I wish they'd play fair and support some of my alternative medicines.